Forced draft grate for fireplaces



Aug; 30, 3966 Filed April 15, l965 W. A. MAASBERG FORCED DRAFT GRATE FOR FIREPLACES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Wm A Maasberg u wwa /eww" ATTORMEY$ 8 3U, 19% W. A. MAASBERG 3,259,3g3

FORCED DRAFT GRATE FOR FIREPLACES Filed April 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 esg as United States Patent 3,269,383 FORCED DRAFT GRATE FOR FIREPLACES William A. Maasberg, 3310 Clement St., Stockton, Calif. Filed Apr. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 448,480 11 Claims. (Cl. 126164) This invention relates in general to an improved log supporting grate for a fireplace.

In particular the invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, a fireplace grate which embodies a novel, forced draft arrangement which not only facilitates initial kindling of a log fire on the grate but servesif desired-t0 subsequently maintain combustion of the logs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fireplace grate, as above, which includesin novel combinationa pair of perforate andiron tubes, a manifold with which the tubes'cornrnunicate, and an electric motor driven fan adapted to create a forced draft through the manifold and into the perforate andiron tubes for discharge from the latter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fireplace grate, as in the preceding paragraph, which is so constructed that the fiow of the forced draftfrom the point of intake to the perforate andiron tubesprevents the fire on the grate from overheating the electric motor.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a fireplace grate which while having the advantageous forced draft feature is readily portable and requires no special installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a forced draft grate for fireplaces which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, and convenience of use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable forced draft grate for fireplaces and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved fireplace grate.

FIG. 2 is enlarged front elevation of the grate.

FIG 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the grate, taken on line 3-3 of FIG 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of the grate, taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken on line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the forced draft grate of this invention comprises a rigid manifold 1-of generally rectangular form in sectionadapted to extend transversely, and of a length less than the width, of the fireplace in which the grate is to be positioned. Such manifold 1 is provided adjacent its ends with depending feet 2 adapted to rest on the floor of the fireplace.

Perforate andiron tubes 3disposed horizontally and in parallel-project rearwardly from opposite ends of the manifold 1 and such tubes are of a length to extend Well back into the fireplace.

Each andiron tube 3 is detachably secured at its forward end in a socket 4 formed with and opening into the manifold 1; the corresponding end of the tube 3 being open. At its rear end, each tube 3 is detachably secured in another socket 5 from which a floor-engaging foot 6 depends. By reason of this mounting of the tubes 3, either may be easily replaced-if heat warped or otherwise damaged-without having to replace the entire grate.

The manifold, centrally of its ends, is formed with a fan housing 7 in which a fan 8 of the conventional squirrel cage type is disposed; the housing being formed so that the fan delivers from the top into one end portion of the manifold and from the bottom into the opposite end portion thereof.

The fan 8 is secured on the axial shaft 9 of an electric motor 10 which is suitably mounted in connection withbut in front of-the cover plate 11 of the manifold 1. Such cover plate 11 is provided with an air entry opening 12 therein about the shaft 9, and through which opening air passes directly to the fan.

The electric motor 10 is, of course, provided with an extension cord 13 having a plug 14 on its outer end and which plug is adapted to engage a conventional outlet in the room in which the fireplace is located.

A curved guard or hood 15 projects from the cover plate 11 in overhanging relation to the top portion of the motor so that the latter is protected from being acci dentally struck from above and thus demaged.

The andiron tubes 3 are provided, on opposite sides of the top center thereof, with rows of spaced holes 16; such holes being of a size and arranged to discharge small jets of air upwardly at angles to a vertical plane, as indicated in FIG. 5. As shown, the rows of holes 16 terminate short of the forward end portions. of said tubes 3.

Bracket arms 17 project upwardly from the manifold 1 adjacent its ends and support horizontal vertically spaced bars 18 which-as a whole-are considerably longer than the manifold. These bars 18, together with the arms 17, prevent any logs resting on the tubes 3 from rolling forwardly therefrom and out of the fireplace. Further, the manifold 1 acts as a stop to prevent any good sized pieces of burning material from moving outwardly from the floor of said fireplace.

In operation, with the electric motor 10 operating and the fan 8 driven thereby, relatively cool air from 'ad jacent the floor of the room is drawn into the fan 8 through the opening 12; this air flow helping to keep the motor cool.

From the fan, the air is directedas a forced draftoppositely in the manifold 1, thence into the tubes 3, and finally out through the holes 16 as air jets. These holes 16-being disposed to the sides of the top center of the tubes 3are thus not likely to be clogged by the logs resting on said tubes, and the issuance of the air jets from the holes is not obstructed.

Such air jets act on the burning material in the fireplace to effectively enhance the combustion of such material, while the air continually passing through the manifold 1 and tubes 3 insures that they will not become overheated and possibly warped or otherwise heat damaged.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a forced draft grate for fireplaces as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the forced draft grate for fireplaces, still in practice such deviations from such deta-il may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A fireplace grate comprising a transverse manifold, a pair of andiron tubes mounted on and projecting back from the manifold adjacent the ends thereof, said tubes being open at their forward ends to the manifold, closed at their near ends, and provided with spaced relatively small openings intermediate such ends; and means to create a forced draft in the manifold and from the latter into the tubes for discharge from said openings.

2. A grate, as in claim 1, in which said means comprises a driven fan within the manifold; the latter having an adjacent opening providing for access of exterior air to the fan.

3. A grate, as in claim 1, in which the andiron tubes are of substantially circular form in cross sect-ion; the openings in each tube being in a row disposed to one side of the top center of the tube and arranged to discharge jets of the forced draft upwardly at an angle to a vertical plane.

4. A grate, as in claim 1, in which said means comprises a driven fan mounted in the manifold centrally of its ends and adapted to deliver the forced draft toward both ends of the manifold; the latter having a central front opening to admit air to the fan.

5. A grate, as in claim 1, in which the manifold, centrally of its ends, includes a fan housing opening toward both ends of the manifold; said means comprising a horizontal axis fan in the housing adapted to deliver the forced draft toward both ends of said manifold, and an electric motor mounted on the front of the manifold and connected to the fan; the front of the fan housing having an air admission opening concentric with the fan and motor.

6. A grate, as in claim 5, with a rigid guard on and projecting forwardly from the fan housing above the opening and over the top of the motor.

7. A grate, as in claim 1, in which the manifold, centrally of its ends, includes a fan housing opening toward both ends of the manifold; said means comprising a fan in the housing adapted to deliver the forced draft toward both ends of said manifold, the housing having an opening enabling exterior air to be drawn to the fan, and means mounted on the grate exteriorly of the housing to drive the fan.

8. A fireplace grate comprising a transverse manifold, means to create a forced draft in the manifold in oppo site directions from an intermediate point therein, an andiron tube extending back from each end portion of the manifold, the andiron tubes being formed with forced draft discharge openings, means connecting the tubes at the front end on and in communication with corresponding end portions of the manifold, and means closing the rear ends of such tubes.

9. A grate, as in claim 8, in which said connecting means and closure means include sockets for reception of the related ends of the tubes.

10. A fireplace grate comprising a transverse manifold, means to create a forced draft in the manifold in opposite directions from an intermediate point therein, an andiron tube extending back from each end portion of the manifold, the andiron tubes being formed with forced draft discharge openings, a rearwardly projecting socket on and in communication with each end portion of the manifold, the related front ends of the tubes being engaged in such sockets, and other sockets in which the related rear ends of the tubes are engaged; said other sockets being bottom-closed and thus providing a closure for said rear ends of the tubes.

11. A grate, as in claim 10, including feet depending from both the manifold and said other sockets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,056 3/1893 Beehler 126164 2,052,643 9/1936 Modine 126-121 2,103,171 12/1937 Nilson 126l20 FOREIGN PATENTS 375,727 6/ 1932 Great Britain. 467,737 6/1937 Great Britain.

CHARLES J. MYHRE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FIREPLACE GRATE COMPRISING A TRANSVERSELY MANIFOLD, A PAIR OF ANDIRON TUBES MOUNTED ON AND PROJECTING BACK FROM THE MANIFOLD ADJACENT THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID TUBES BEING OPEN AT THEIR FORWARD ENDS TO THE MANIFOLD, CLOSED AT THEIR NEAR ENDS, AND PROVIDED WITH SPACED RELATIVELY SMALL OPENINGS INTERMEDIATE SUCH ENDS; AND MEANS TO 